Standsure Ministries

We are terribly sorry to have to announce that our friend, coworker, fellow heir and dear brother, Reverend James Berkley has passed away Sunday after suffering what appeared to be a heart attack. James was preaching to his beloved Church, Judah Praise Center this morning when he reportedly stopped and said that there was something going wrong with his heart. He then collapsed and was taken by Aid Car to Everett Medical Center in Everett Washington where the staff worked diligently to save his life.

James’ wife, Kathy, was with him through the entire ordeal today. She will greatly miss a very great man.

A Celebration Service for the life of James Berkley was held on Saturday, January 2, 2010, at Word of Life Church in Marysville, Washington. (Word of Life Church, 9028 51st Ave NE, Marysville, WA 98270)

The service can be seen online.

Cards and Encouragement may be mailed to the

Berkley Residence

4822 104th PL NE
Marysville WA 98270

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James Berkley: A Father’s Mantle
by Jon & Jolene Hamill

Fathers in the faith are never short of advice. After ministry one night, with my mouth full of fries, James Berkley and Timothy Sherman began to feed me warnings on the dangers of fast food. Under heavy conviction, I desperately sought for something—anything—that would allow me to finish my combo meal in peace.

“So—you guys were in revival together? What was it like?”

This became the game-changer. For the next hour or so, the back seat of the SUV became my box seat as Sherman and Berkley laughed and wept their way through a few decades of revival memories. Like Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid, or Pacino and DeNiro, they literally became larger than life. And in my heart and mind, they have remained this way ever since.

James Berkley departed this world the same way he lived—larger than life. When the Elijah Commission founder stepped off the stage last Sunday, he had just preached and prophesied the Father’s Mantle from heaven to earth, and commissioned a bunch of budding Elishas to make it their own. Probably nobody but Jesus knew how much his message would soon mean to friends and family the world over.

Now it’s up to us to pick up the Mantle and ask the same question that matured James into the apostolic father he became. Where is the Lord God of Elijah? Where—and who–is our true Father?

When this issue is resolved, and the Lord breaks forth with power, we will have stepped into our inheritance. And what the enemy meant for evil will only perpetuate God’s intended destiny.

I will always remember James Berkley for his lightning smile, his quick wit, his never-suppressed enthusiasm to see the best in people and celebrate who they are. We will never forget his heart, or the legacy he and his precious wife Kathy forged so that we all could all advance in Jesus Christ.

To the end and beyond, James Berkley has always been a waymaker. So please don’t let the poets of this Prozac year speak of a “candle snuffed out,” or a “prize fighter down for the count.” Truth is, a way has been made for us to embrace all that we cherished in our friend. Pick up the Father’s Mantle and lets get on with the commission—James would have it no other way!

I’ll update this post with more information about James as it comes into us. Please pray and believe God with us for Kathy and their children and grand-children.